Posted on 08/26/2004 10:59:02 AM PDT by x1stcav
Kerry Spot [ jim geraghty reporting ]
RASSMANN GOT A PURPLE HEART, TOO? ON THE SAME DAY? [08/26 01:52 PM]
Has it been reported elsewhere that Jim Rassmann, the man John Kerry fished out of the river, was awarded a Purple Heart “for wounds received in connection with military operations against a hostile force” on the day he was rescued by John Kerry?
Have any of the accounts of that day listed an injury on the part of Rassmann? The descriptions, including Rassmann‘s own, don‘t mention this injury. The Kerry Spot is not charging Rassmann with not being injured; but it seems like an important point that’s been ignored by previous accounts.
If Rassmann were injured while he’s bobbing in the water after falling off PCF-94, that makes the story of his rescue even more dramatic. If his Purple Heart was awarded for being shot, that would appear to strengthen the argument that the boats were under fire. And yet neither the Globe’s account, nor “Unfit for Command,” appear to mention an injury to Rassmann, and I haven’t seen any reference to this in “Tour of Duty.”
The next question is who put in the paperwork for Rassmann’s Purple Heart medal.
Lt. JG John Kerry?
Would it weaken the case that Kerry earned his medals in that March 13, 1969 incident if the man recommending him for those medals was being recommended for medals of his own by Kerry?
Now, we shouldn’t read too much into this. The recommendation for Rassmann’s purple heart could have come from some other sailor or soldier out there. Even if it came from Kerry, this does not definitively prove that either one of them is lying, or shading the truth in any way.
But it does seem odd that this medal has been left out of all of the accounts so far.
(Thanks to Kerry Spot reader Lars for noticing this.)
Water up the nose. It matches the same high criteria that Kerry's Purple Hearts were subject to.
I always thought it would be worthwhile checking Rasmann's 201 file to see if he and Kerry had a reciprocal arrangement for putting each other in for awards.
Hell, I had water up the nose once (at least it was a liquid, but seeing as it was paddy water, I'm not certain what type of water it was, if you get my drift) and I would've never guessed I could've qualified for a PH.
The timing seems suspicious.
Kerry told the committee on April 22, 1971, "...I can recall often sending in the spot reports which we made after each mission..."
Kerry also said that many in the military had "a tendency to report what they want to report and see what they want to see."
THe author leaves out the possibility that Rassman may have recieved injuries in the action that did take place up river at the village. That is where Kerry got his "Rice burn"
He got a Purple Heart for falling out of a boat? You can see that any day of the week at a lake here in Georgia!
You mean his ricin the ass?
Why would the two of them (living in different states) both contribute $1000 to the Lurch Campaign on the same day (3-20-04)?
Doesn't that seem a bit strange?
Yes, but according to Rassmann, Kerry was the only one injured in the rice burn.
I mean bullets fired in his direction.
Good sleuthing work.
If he had an injury from the explosion that would be different from a bullet injury from small arms fire.
But, if I remember, didn't Kerry also put in for a "contusion" from that event? So...if Rassman also had a bruise, then maybe that's what the medical records will show. After all,no one's mentioned shrapnel or bullet wound in Rassman.
Maybe "river water in your lungs" qualifies as a combat injury.
"THe author leaves out the possibility that Rassman may have recieved injuries in the action that did take place up river at the village. That is where Kerry got his "Rice burn" "
Nope,
Rassman specifically stated that he managed to take cover and was unhurt when Kerry tossed the grenade into the rice.
Kerry was too slow, according to Rassman, and got caught in the blast of puffed rice.
Was it easier to get a Purple Heart in the Navy than in other divisions? My husband (a former Marine with a P.H. from 1968) is amazed that a "self-inflicted wound during combat" could qualify! What about "friendly fire" wounds then, do they quality for a P.H. too?
OK, this is odd. There really is no reason he shouldn't have mentioned it here:
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110005460
even if it had been caused by the mission they were returning from.
According to Hurley - on Fox - H&C - there were several awards made on that day. I thought he said something like 17.
OK, this is odd. There really is no reason he shouldn't have mentioned it here:
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110005460
even if it had been caused by the mission they were returning from.
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